U.S. Army orders $13.8 million in AeroVironment RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft systems, gimbaled payloads

MONROVIA, Calif., 10 April 2013. AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) engineers are working to fulfill a $13.8 million order, under a United States Army contract not to exceed $65.5 million, for RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), new miniature gimbaled payloads, and initial spares packages.

Delivery of systems, spares, and payloads is scheduled for completion by 25 July 2013 and is funded from the Army’s fiscal 2012 procurement budget.

“The proven Raven small unmanned aircraft system continues to serve our soldiers reliably, wherever and whenever they require immediate airborne situational awareness,” says Roy Minson, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems. “Like all our customers, the Army’s needs continue to evolve, and we continue to deliver enhanced solutions to ensure that our troops maintain their battlefield advantage. The Mantis suite of gimbaled payloads is the latest example of a valuable capability enhancement to protect those who protect us.”

The RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft system is a 4.5-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery wirelessly to a portable ground control station for "over the hill" and "around the corner" reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition in support of tactical units.

U.S. armed forces use Raven systems for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning, and force protection.

Each Raven system typically consists of three aircraft, two ground control stations, and spares.